Folding chair



Oct. 23, 1956 D. K. ALLEN FOLDING CHAIR E'iled Sept. 27, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Deva/a K AV/en 5M v 14 TTORNEK Oct. 23, 1956ALLEN 2,767,776

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Sept. 27, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5074/0 Kflfle/f United States Patent FOLDING CHAIR Donald K. Allen, Kansas City,Kans.

Application September 27, 1955, Serial No. 536,894

6 Claims. (Cl. 155-148) This invention relates to folding chairs andrefers particularly to a folding bridge or utility chair which iscompletely collapsible upon itself to occupy a minimum volume of storagespace.

Previously, many types of folding chairs have been provided for home andgeneral seating purposes in auditoriums and other places ofentertainment. The main objection to these conventional types of foldingchairs in both their home and professional use is that, despite theirrelative collapsibility compared to non-collapsible chairs, they,nevertheless, take up too much storage space and the partially collapsedframes contain too much dead air volume. Storage space is at a premiumin modem-day small houses and apartments as well as in publicentertainment places. Additionally, the existing conventional types offolding chairs are not convenient for insertion into auto trunks fortransportation to picnic spots and the like due to, again, theincomplete folding of the chair frame in its collapsed position.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide alightweight, compact, attractive, folding utility or bridge chair whichhas a completely collapsible frame which, in collapsed position, takesup a minimum of storage space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a completelycollapsible folding utility or bridge chair which may be easily andconveniently stored on closet shelves, in car trunks or may be hung oncloset walls or doors. 1

Another object of the present invention is to provide a folding utilityor bridge chair which is completely collapsible upon itself, is strong,has a dependable, simple folding and unfolding operation, is highlyportable and nestable with a plurality of folded like chairs formultiple storage thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a completelycollapsible folding utility or bridge chair which may be stored ineither a flat or erect position when collapsed without either the backor seat portion contacting the floor.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following description.

In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specification andwhich are to be read in conjunction therewith, there is shown anembodiment of the invention and, in the various views, like numerals areemployed to indicated like parts.

Fig. 1 is a three-quarter perspective view of the inventive chair inerect assembled position.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the inventive folding chair in foldedposition.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the inventive chair of Fig. 1 in erectposition.

Fig. 4 is a view taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional elevation of the inventive chair illustratingan intermediate stage in either the folding or unfolding processthereof.

Fig. 6 is a side sectional elevation of the inventive fold- -ting chairjust before it is in a completely folded position or just after theunfolding process is begun, illustrating the positions of the variousparts.

Referring to the drawings, the structure of the chair itself will befirst described and then the operation and motion of the parts relativeone another in the folding and unfolding process.

The inventive folding chair has a pair of front legs 10 rigidly attachedto a crossarm 11 at their upper ends. 'For convenience of manufacture ofthe chair, an inverted U-frame may be employed to form the front legs 10and their crossarm 11. The chair also has a pair of rear legs 12 rigidlyattached to a crossarm 13 at their upper ends. Again, an invertedU-frame may be employed to provide the rear legs 12 and crossarm 13. Thefront leg U-frame is preferably of greater Width than the rear legU-frame so as to fold thereover when the chair is collapsed. The front10 and rear 12 legs are angled outwardly at their bases in assembledside view of the chair to provide a stable sitting base therefor. AU-frame having a crossarm 14 and rearwardly extending legs 15 :isrotatably fastened by clip 16 to the front leg crossarm to form a seatbase. The seat base U-frame is preferably of essentially the same widthas the front leg U-frame. The seat base U-frame lies essentiallyhorizontally in the assembled side view of the chair. The chair back ispreferably formed of another U-frame having crossarm 17 and legs 18. Theback U-frame is rotatably fixed at its free lower ends by bolts 18a tothe rear legs below their crossarm 13 and also to the free rearwardlyextending ends of the seat base U-frame 15 by bolts 15a above itsconnection to the rear legs 12. The back U-frame is preferably ofgreater width than the seat base and front leg U-frarnes. The innersides [of the legs 18 of the back U-frame are attached to the outersides of the rear legs 12 and the outer sides of the legs 15 of the seatbase U-frame are fixed to the inner sides of the back U-frame legs 18.Rotatable positioners 19 are fixed between the rear legs 12 and the endsof the back U-frame by bolts 18a to compensate for the width differencestherebetween. In assembled side view of the chair, the back U-frameangles rearwardly from the vertical to provide a leaning rest. Backshield 20 is preferably mounted relative crossarm 17 of the back U-frameto provide a rest thereon. A pair of linkages 21 connect the front legs10 below their crossarm 11 with the interconnection of the back U-framewith the rear legs. Bolts 21a engage the front ends of linkages 21 withfront legs 10 and bolts 18a engage the rear ends of the linkages. Thelinkages 21 attach the outer sides of the front legs 10 to the outersides of the back U-frame legs 18 at the aforementioned rotatableconnection with the rear legs 12. The linkages 21 assume an essentiallyhorizontal position in the assembled side view of the chair and carry aportion of the lateral loads thereof. A seat plate 22 is connectedto-the seat base U-frame by a pair of pivoted arms 23. Arms 23 areattached to the underside of the seat plate at flange 24 by bolts 24aand to the insides of the seat base U-frame legs 15 by bolts 25. Theseat plate 22 is essentially the same width as the seat base U-framecrossarm 14 and the front leg crossarm 11. The seat plate 22 rotatablyengages the rear leg crossarm 13 by depending flanges 26 from the lowerside thereof. Flanges 26 are positioned between the rear legs 12 so asto clear the rearward extension of the seat base U-frame legs 15 as theymove back and forth during the folding and unfolding of the chair. Seatplate 22 also has turned under flange 27 at the rear end thereof wherebyto engage the ends of the seat base U-frame legs 15 when the chair is inerect assembled 7 position. Flange 27 may be formed by the bending underof the rear edge of seat plate 22, if such is desired. Flange 27receives and abuts the ends of the seat base U-frame legs 15 when thechair is in assembled position. Seat plate 22 lies on top of the seatbase U-frame and in an essentially horizontal position when the chair isin assembled position. Cushioned seat 28 may be fixed to the uppersurface of seat plate 22.

In operation, to close or collapse the folding chair from the positionas shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the front of the seat plate 22 is graspedwith one hand and the back crossarm 17 with the other. The front of theseat plate 22 is lifted against a counterforce with the other handagainst the back crossarm 17. This action rotates the front of the seatplate 22 up over the arc of the pivotal arms 23 attaching it to the seatbase U-frame legs 15 and the seat plate 22 may then be shovedrearwardly, thus clearing the depending seat base U-frame leg receivingflange 27 from the seat base U-frame leg ends 15. The front edge of theseat plate 22 is then pushed backwardly and the back U-frame crossarm 17is pushed forwardly simultaneously roughly parallel one another wherebythe back legs 18 rotate about their connection with the seat baseU-frame legs 15 towards the seat plate 22. The rear legs 12 rotateinwardly in side view around their connection with the lower ends of theback U-frame legs 18 and linkages 21. Rear legs 12 also rotate inwardlyin side view relative the underside of the seat plate 22 through theflange 26 connection with the rear leg crossarm 13. The front legs 10rotate inwardly in side view relative the seat base U-frame legs 15through the clip 16 connection to the seat base U-frame crossarm 14, andalso relative linkages 21 through the connections therewith. Seat plate22 moves rearwardly over the arc of pivoted arms 23 relative the seatbase U-frame legs 15 and the seat plate 22 and seat 28 pass under theback rest shield 20.

Referring to Figs. and 6, as well as Fig. 2, the chair, in foldedposition, may be described as follows: The rear legs 12 are foldedbetween the front legs 11. The seat base U-frame overlies the front legU-frame. The back U-frame is outside of and partly overlying the seatbase U-frame. The seat plate 22 and seat 28 are between the back legs 18and overlying the seat base U-frame. In Fig. 2 the lower linkage 21 isdisconnected from the front leg to better show the interrelationship ofthe parts in folded position.

To open the inventive folding chair from the folded position, the backcross arm 17 is separated from the seat base U-frame crossarm 14. Theoperator reaches therebetween and seizes the front of seat plate 22 andseat 28. The seat plate 22 is pulled forwardly while the back cross arm14 is pushed rearwardly. The back U-frame rotates in side view aroundthe connection with the seat base U-frame leg ends away from the seatbase U-frame. The front legs 10, under the impetus of the linkages 21,rotate through the clip 16 connection away from the seat base U-frame.The rear legs 12 rotate around the back U-frame and linkage 21connection as the seat 22 is pulled through away from the seat baseU-frame. The seat plate 22 moves forwardly over the arc of the pivotalarms 23 relative the seat base U-frame and the downwardly depending rearflange 27 thereon engages the end of the legs of the seat base U-frarneas the chair comes into assembled position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the invention.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to 4 be understood that allmatter hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is tobe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A folding chair comprising a pair of front legs rigidly attached to acrossarm at their upper ends, a pair of rear legs rigidly attached to acrossarm at their upper ends, a U-frame rotatably fastened at it closedend to the crossarm of the front legs, a U-shaped back rotatably fixedat its free lower ends to the rear legs below their crossarm and to thefree rearwardly extending ends of the U-frame above its free lower ends,linkages connecting the front legs below their crossarrn and theconnections of the U-shaped back with the rear legs, a seat platepositioned above the U-frame and connected to the side arms thereof by apair of pivoted arms attached at one end to the bottom of the seat andat the other to the U-frame, said seat having a turned under flange atthe rear end thereof whereby to engage the ends of the arms of theU-frame and a fitting fixed to the underside thereof whereby torotatably receive the crossarrn of the rear legs.

2. A folding chair comprising a U-frame defining a pair of front legs ininverted position, a U-frame defining a pair of rear legs in invertedposition, a U-frame seat base rotatably fastened at its closed end tothe crossarm of the front leg U-frame, an inverted U-frame defining achair back rotatably fixed at its free ends to the rear leg U-framebelow the crossarm thereof and to the rear ends of the seat baseU-frarne above its free ends, a pair of linkages connecting the frontleg U-frame below its crossarm to the interconnection of the rear legand the back U-frames, a seat plate connected to the side arms of theseat base U-frame by a pair of pivoted arms attached at one end to thebottom of the seat and at the other to the seat base U-frame arms, saidseat having a turned under flange at the rear end thereof whereby toengage the ends of the arms of the seat base U-frame and a fitting fixedto the underside thereof whereby to rotatably re ceive the crossarm ofthe rear leg U-frame.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the front leg U-frarne is of greaterwidth than the rear leg U-frame so as to fold thereover, the seat baseU-frame is essentially the same width as the front leg U-frame, the backU-frame is of greater width than hte seat base and front leg U-frames,rotatable positioners are fixed between the back U-frame and rear legU-frame at the connection thereof to compensate for the width differencetherebetween and the seat is essentially the same width as the seat baseand front leg U-frames.

4, A folding chair comprising an inverted U-frame defining a pair offront legs, an inverted U-frame defining a pair of rear legs, a U-frameseat base rotatably fastened to the front leg crossarni, the free endsthereof extending rearwardly, a U-frarne forming a back with its closedend and having its free ends rotatably fixed to the outer sides of therear legs below the crossarm thereof, the free ends of the seat baseU-frame attached to the inner sides of the U-frame back above itsconnection to the rear legs, linkages attaching the outer sides of thefront legs below the crossarrn to the outer sides of the back U- arm atits interconnection with the rear leg U-arm, a seat plate positionedrelative to the U-at'm seat base. a pair of arms rotatably connectingthe underside of the eat plate to the inner sides of the seat baseLI-arm, the rear edge of the seat plate bent under to form a seat baseU-arm receiving flange, a rear leg crossarm receiving fixture attachedto the underside of the rear end of the Seat plate to rotatably receivethe crossarrn of the rear leg U-arm, said fixture positioned between therear legs so as to clear a path for the rearward extension of the seatbase U-arm legs as they move backward and forwardiy as the chair isfolded and unfolded.

5. A folding chair as in claim 4 wherein the front leg U-frame is ofgreater width than the rear leg U-frame so as to fold thercover, thescat base U-frame is the same essential width as the front leg U-frame,the back U- frame is of greater width than the seat base and front legU-frames, rotatable positioners are inserted between the back U-frameand the rear leg U-frame at their connection to compensate for the widthdifferences thereof, and the seat is essentially the same width as theseat base and front leg U-frame,

6. A folding chair comprising an inverted U-frame defining a pair offront legs, an inverted U-frame defining a pair of rear legs, said rearand front leg U-frames angled outwardly at their bases in assembled sideview to provide a stable base for the chair, a U-frame forming anessentially horizontal seat base in assembled side view rotatablyclipped to the crossarm of the front leg, the free ends thereofextending rearwardly, an inverted U- frame forming the chair back withits closed end and having its free ends rotatably fixed to the rear legsbelow the crossarm thereof, the back angling rearwardly from thevertical in assembled side view to provide a leaning rest for the chair,the free ends of the seat base U-frame attached to the arms of the backU-frame above its connection to the rear leg U-frame, linkages attachingeach of the front legs below the front leg crossarm to the correspondinginterconnection between the rear leg and the back U-arrns, said linkagesessentially horizontal in assembled side view, a seat plate attached tothe seat base U-arms by a pair of pivotal arms and rotatably engagedwith the rear leg cross arm by a fitting depending from its lower side,said seat plate lying on the seat base U-arm tops and in essentiallyhorizontal position in assembled side view, and a seat base U-armabutting and receiving flange depending from the rear end of the seatplate engaging the rear ends of the seat base U-arms in assembledposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,005,715 Kovats June 18, 1935 2,705,043 Hoven Mar. 29, 1955 FOREIGNPATENTS 467,370 France Mar. 28, 1914 551,727 France Jan. 12, 1923607,196 France Mar. 23, 1926

